COVID-19 Slashes Life Expectancy by Decades, New Study Finds
New research reveals the stark impact of COVID-19 on life expectancy. Men and women who succumbed to the virus died, on average, 14 and 12 years earlier than expected respectively. These findings, driven by financial needs to sustain research, could significantly influence policy decisions.
The study, led by Eloy Santos-Pujol from the Josep-Carreras Institute in Barcelona, found that COVID-19's impact on lifespan is comparable to that of heart disease. Policymakers may now consider a human life and each year of life as worth around €1.3 million, based on these findings.
Breaking down the data, men lost an average of 13 years, and women 11 years, even accounting for underlying health conditions. In the US and UK, people lost an average of 14 and 11 years respectively. Notably, those aged 90 and above lost an additional year due to COVID-19. The authors expect these results to hold, despite potential model changes.
In a separate study, researchers analyzed the oldest living person, Maria Branyas Morera, who died at 117. They found that those who died from COVID-19 would have lived an average of 10 more years. However, these studies do not account for those who recovered from the disease.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly reduced life expectancy, with men and women losing substantial years of life. These findings, though driven by financial considerations, provide valuable insights for policymakers. They underscore the importance of prioritizing public health measures to mitigate the virus's impact and protect vulnerable populations.
